868.00/5–2047: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
734. My telegram 717, May 16.1 Minister Foreign Office has informed me that he will issue following declaration to press tonight.
“The Greek Government, upon its formation, declared that it considered it its duty to uphold the law against the violence of the armed bands and to make secure the Greek peoples’s life and freedom. At the same time, in its desire to bring internal strife to an early end, it proclaimed its determination to apply all possible measures of appeasement and pacification.
“In the application of its promises the government first proceeded to make a general revision of deportations which have been greatly reduced in numbers. It also proceeded to order the immediate suspension of all deportations without exception of old men, of women and children and issued a law which amnestied acts of rebellion committed by all those reporting to the authorities in a fixed time limit, also guaranteeing an effective protection of their return to a peaceful existence.
“Now that UN interest and American aid have brought the country assurance of security and economic reconstruction, the government feels that it can reexamine previous amnesty decrees as well as leniency measures already applied.
“The government having found the measures applied to have been useful is prepared to reapply them generously and for such time as may be consistent with the exigencies and safety of the state.
[Page 175]“The Greek Government wishes, moreover, to declare that—as a government of a democratic country carrying out its policy with open doors—it has the intention of requesting impartial foreign observers of one or more countries to visit Greece to observe the fair and equitable treatment accorded anyone desirous to take advantage of the clemency of the state and put himself under its protection.
“Naturally the timing and other modalities of the request will be determined in due time by the Greek Government.
“The Greek Government in proceeding to make this statement feel it necessary to proclaim that fully satisfactory implementation of the amnesty must necessarily be contingent on effective measures to be taken in pursuance of the final decisions of the Security Council to seal the northern frontiers of Greece in such a manner as to prevent any further aid reaching the guerrilla bands from outside Greece.”
Sent Department 734; repeated Geneva for Ethridge.